Final answer:
The question explores Cicero's emotional expression, or pathos, in the face of personal tragedy, which contrasts with Roman societal expectations of stoic masculinity. This reveals a tension between Cicero's personal grief and the public image he was expected to maintain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses whether young Cicero was engaged in pathos, referring to his expressions of emotion. Cicero experienced a notably difficult period, particularly his exile and the death of his daughter, events that significantly impacted him emotionally.
His contemporaries, such as Sulpicius, might have seen such displays as a weakness of character, while modern perspectives might be more sympathetic. Cicero, despite his intellectual inclinations towards philosophy, found himself in a society that valued stoicism and a detachment from personal loss, especially in the public forum.
His grief, however, suggests a countercultural embrace of pathos, challenging the Roman notions of masculinity and emotional expression. The evaluation of Cicero's emotional responses can thus be influenced by the societal values of his time versus current-day interpretations of grief and human expressiveness.